Not all falls are inevitable: here’s how you can prevent them

While preventing falls is something we should consider year-round, November is Fall Prevention Month, dedicated to raising awareness about what causes falls and how best to prevent them. As we get older, it is more likely we will experience falls due to things such as chronic conditions, balance problems, poor vision, cognitive impairment or side effects from medications. Improper footwear and tripping hazards within the home can also cause falls. Falls can be a life-changing event, with one in five resulting in a broken bone or a head injury. It may also result in a loss of self-confidence due to the fear of falling again. The good news is that not all falls are inevitable, and there are many things that can be done to prevent them. For example, maintaining good foot health and doing exercises to help with balance can help.

Read through our resources below to learn more about falls and what you can do to prevent them. 


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DISCLAIMER: These summaries are provided for informational purposes only. They are not a substitute for advice from your own health care professional. The summaries may be reproduced for not-for-profit educational purposes only. Any other uses must be approved by the McMaster Optimal Aging Portal (info@mcmasteroptimalaging.org).

Many of our Blog Posts were written before the COVID-19 pandemic and thus do not necessarily reflect the latest public health recommendations. While the content of new and old blogs identify activities that support optimal aging, it is important to defer to the most current public health recommendations. Some of the activities suggested within these blogs may need to be modified or avoided altogether to comply with changing public health recommendations. To view the latest updates from the Public Health Agency of Canada, please visit their website.